Friday, March 20, 2026
Friday, March 20, 2026
Let's Connect!
Ahoy, spring! She’s rolled in on a tide of wild weather this year, but every good Pirate knows a little rain leads to a lot of treasure: bright blooms and blue skies ahead.
After months of chilly days and colder nights we're craving the moment when we all come out of hibernation, shed our coats, stretch our limbs, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the wonders of the season. Warmth! Sunshine! Flowers!
Drop anchor and enjoy this week’s Patch-perfect edition!
Following is a handful of photo highlights from recent events and activities. THANK YOU to our PTA/PTOs, Kim Casterline, Christmas City Studios, our parent photographers and friends, our building principals, and Christmas City who share these photos for the newsletter every week. It would not be possible without you. You are appreciated! (Click or tap on an image to stop the carousel. Use the arrows to go forward and back at your own pace.)
Your guide to timely information in the Palisades School District.
It's time to start Kindergarten Registration for the Class of 2039.
Children who will attain the age of five before 9/1/26 are eligible. Three proofs of residency, a current immunization record and proof of the child’s age must be presented.
Register online HERE.
There will also be an in-person event on March 23rd where you will have the opportunity to:
Meet The Teachers
Get Questions Answered
Receive Registration Support
Submit Required Documents
In-Person Event:
March 23, 2026
4:00-7:00PM
Palisades Middle School
4710 Durham Road, Kintnersville
See all of the class options and registration information on our website.
Ceramics (Spring Session Registration Is Now Open)
Qi Gong
Pickleball (BEGINNERS WELCOME)
Tennis
Volleyball
Check back frequently as new classes will continue to be added.
Find out what's happening in our schools! The Palisades School District is comprised of three elementary schools (Durham Nockamixon, Springfield, and Tinicum), Palisades Middle School, and Palisades High School.
Our Adapted PE program at Tinicum Elementary continues to go very well! Students have been having a great time working with some new friends in the IU classroom who recently joined us. It has been wonderful to see our students interacting and building connections both during class and throughout the school day.
We are also excited to share that 59 students have signed up as volunteers to help support this program and work alongside our students in the IU classroom.
A special thank you to Mr. Blocher for organizing this opportunity for all students and for his commitment to inclusion. We appreciate the positive impact this program is having on our school community!
The Kids for Kindness Club at the high school has been selling mismatched socks for $5 a pair. We will celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on Monday, March 23rd!
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) 2026 takes place on Saturday, March 21, with many observing the "Rock Your Socks" campaign on Friday, March 20, Saturday, March 21, or Monday, March 23, 2026. The campaign encourages wearing bright, mismatched, or colorful socks to start conversations and raise awareness for Down syndrome, celebrating the three copies of the 21st chromosome.
On March 12th, 13th, and 14th, fifteen of our PALMS and PHS student musicians participated in the Bucks County Music Educators’ Association (BCMEA) Festival. These students auditioned against top music students across Bucks County to earn spots in these ensembles. The performances were incredible and these students did a great job representing Palisades! Please join us in congratulating them on this achievement!
High School Choir:
Louise Focazio
Ilaria LeBlanc
Nathan Clapp
Luke Ruvo
Alex Tumolo
Michael Oschman
Andrew Worez
Aiden Shermer
High School Band:
Gianna Nastasi (flute)
Olivia Bellis (clarinet)
Mandy Reese (trombone)
High School Orchestra:
Lily Clifford (violin)
Middle School Choir:
Olivia Bowen
Wyatt Clapp
Middle School Orchestra:
Caroline Page (cello)
Last weekend, the Cybersonics Team #103 placed second in the championship playoffs. The team also won the Industrial Design Award for their innovative robot design. The team was also recognized by FIRST FUN which is a segment of the FIRST program. The team members did an exemplary job answering interview questions about their robot’s design and received this prestigious recognition.
Currently, the team is ranked 6th out of 120 teams in their competition district.
Congratulations to Cybersonics!
The PHS senior class is planning to sell raffle tickets at the district-wide Monster Meet art exhibit at Palisades High School (library) on March 26th.
We are looking for generous parents/guardians to donate raffle baskets to sell at the event to raise money to help fund the senior picnic this year.
We are grateful for any donations. Please drop them off in the main office at PHS labeled “Pavey - Senior Raffle” by March 25th at 2 pm.
Please contact Ms. Pavey at kpavey@palisadessd.org with any questions.
Second grade students at Tinicum Elementary and Durham Nockamixon Elementary created a texture monster painting in art class. Their artwork was shared with the high school art students who brought the texture monsters to life!
Not only can you come and see the amazing artwork but you can hear the monster stories written by students in the Palisades High School Creative Writing class!
You won't want to miss this wonderful, creative and FUN collaboration
March 26, 2026
Palisades High School Library
6:00-7:30pm
Attention juniors and seniors!
Prom tickets go on sale April 1-24! Tickets are $70 each during the first week of sales and $75 for the remaining weeks of sales. Tickets can be purchased directly on MySchoolBucks or by check or cash in Mrs. Scoggin’s office. Juniors and Seniors are permitted to bring a guest, either another Palisades student or an outside guest. If you are bringing an outside guest, you must pick up a purple guest form from the main office and return the completed form to the main office. The form needs to be approved by the administration first and then you will be able to receive a ticket for your guest. An information table will be available during many lunches, based on student availability.
This year’s prom will be held on Friday, May 15th, at the Steel Club in Hellertown. Arrival time is 5:45 pm, and the event ends at 10:00 pm.
Remember, if you plan to bring a guest that is not a current Palisades student, you MUST complete the Guest Permission Form prior to purchasing your tickets. This information can be found in the student handbook. For your convenience, the permission form can be accessed at this link here.
We don’t want the inability to afford a dress to prevent you from enjoying this special night. If you need any assistance in finding the perfect Prom dress, please see Mrs. Mazza in guidance or Mrs. Page in the nurse's office.
Are you ready for Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Flag Football, and Track & Field?! Our spring season starts in a couple of weeks. Come on out and cheer for our Pirates!
An important message from our Athletic Director:
Home TRACK & FIELD meet season is here and we need your help! Hosting a successful meet takes a team effort, and we’re looking for workers to help with timing, field events, check-in, and recording scores.
No experience is needed — we’ll show you exactly what to do. It’s a great way to support our athletes, make a few bucks and be part of the action! If you would like to help out, please contact Brian Gilbert at bgilbert@palisadessd.org
Home Track & Field meet dates:
3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/14, 4/18, 4/28
You can find a complete calendar of upcoming PSD athletic events here.
Let's Go, Pirates!!!
From the Palisades Pirates Football Boosters:
Dear Community Member,
The Palisades Pirates Football Team is excited to announce our annual golf outing at the Green Pond Country Club on May 16th, a cherished tradition that brings together our supporters, players, and families for a day of fun and community spirit. We are reaching out to invite you to become a sponsor and/or participant for this year's event, which will directly benefit our 2026 football players by providing meals, supplies, gear, and other necessities throughout the season.
Your sponsorship or donation-whether monetary or in-kind-will make a meaningful impact on our athletes and their experience. All proceeds from the event will go straight to supporting the team, ensuring that every dollar helps our players succeed both on and off the field.
We would be grateful for your support at any level, and all contributions are appreciated and tax deductible. Please contact us at palisadesfbboosters@gmail.com to secure your sponsorship or donate or see the flyer below. Together, we can ensure the Palisades Pirates have a successful and fulfilling 2026 season.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our student athletes. We look forward to partnering with you!
Date:
May 16, 2026
Location:
Green Pond Country Club
Cost:
$110 per person
Registration:
12:00PM
Shotgun Start:
1:30PM
Includes t-shirt, hot dog/hamburger, beverage ticket, buffet dinner, raffles, prizes, and much more!
Download the letter and forms in PDF format HERE.
Questions? Contact Beth Cook at 267-382-9350 (text) or palisadesfbboosters@gmail.com
Date:
April 25, 2026
Location:
Green Pond Country Club
Deadline:
April 11, 2026
Registration:
12:00PM
Shotgun Start:
1:30PM
Includes buffet dinner, snack & beverage of choice, fourman scramble, singles matched and much more!
Download the forms in PDF format HERE.
Questions? Contact James Deppe at 732-233-4302
Information in this section will be particularly helpful for those who have students in our schools.
Palisades School District invites parents and their four/five-year old preschool children to join us for Family Night. While a Palisades Teacher enjoys stories and activities with the children, parents will attend a presentation featuring fun ideas for learning about early literacy. During the second part of the program, parents and children will complete an activity together. Participants will receive a free book.
Two evening Pre-K Nights will be held for families, each covering a different topic. Families are invited to attend one or both of the sessions. Please complete the form at the link below to indicate which of the sessions you will be attending.
DATES:
Pre-K Night # 1: May 6, 2026
Topic of Session: Alphabetic Principle and Phonemic Awareness
Pre-K Night #2: May 20, 2026
Topic of Session: Concepts of Print, Vocabulary and Environmental Print
LOCATION:
Durham-Nockamixon School Library
39 Thomas Free Dr, Kintnersville, PA 18930
TIME:
6:00-7:00 PM
SIGN UP ONLINE AT THE LINK BELOW OR USING THE QR CODE:
You can download the flyer in PDF format in English or Spanish using the links below:
Thanks to the support of State Representatives Shelby Labs and Craig T. Staats, each of our elementary school students will be receiving a coloring book about Pennsylvania's history to commemorate 250 years of America's History (1776 - 2026).
Thank you to Representatives Labs and Staats for your continued support of our district, our students, and our community.
Let’s spread some joy! 🍎 Help us shine a light on the dedication of our educators. We’d love for parents to have the opportunity to nominate the educators who have made a difference in their children’s lives.
Nominate a staff member for the Lehigh University College of Education’s “Educators with Real Impact” initiative and they could be featured or win a raffle prize!
You can find the nomination form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDRg9U9RBlmIgrBrZWV7S4Npffot48j5eIdw-sk580PlVO3A/viewform
The Palisades School District continues to offer a free breakfast for every student, every day.
You can find daily breakfast and lunch menu options HERE.
The following day is no longer a student/staff holiday. School will now be in session on the following day:
Monday, April 6th (make-up for 12/15/25)
The revised at-a-glance PSD district calendar can be found here.
FAQ for Weather Delays & Cancellations:
Please see the following link for information about weather delays and cancellations: https://www.palisd.org/our_district/superintendent_s_office/from_the_desk_of_dr__bridget_o__connell/faq_for_weather_delays_cancellations
Why should I turn off electronics before bedtime? We know it’s tough to hear, but the research is super clear: electronic devices (phones, TVs, computers, video games, etc.) before bed can make it hard to wind down. One reason? Blue light from the bright screens can slow down the release of a hormone called melatonin in your body. Melatonin plays a very important role in sleep, so when it’s messed up, it is harder to sleep. Also, the temptation of social media and video games can make it really hard to disconnect from your phone or computer. When that happens, you are very likely to go to sleep a lot later than you intended. It is important to turn off all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
The Palisades School District has a membership to the DaVinci Science Center for the duration of the 2025-2026 school year. District families and faculty receive a 15% discount on general admission tickets and annual family memberships!
Use the following ticketing link and discount code Palisades15 to purchase your general admission passes here.
Thank you to the Palisades Community Foundation for their generous donation that made this membership possible!
Links to recordings from the most recent Regular Board and Committee Meetings can be found below. Clicking on these links will redirect you to our PSD Stream channel on YouTube. You can find a complete Board and Committee Meeting Schedule on our website.
Disclaimer: Palisades School District is not responsible for statements made by those in attendance at the meeting. Rebroadcasting/reproduction of the audio recording is strictly prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained from the Superintendent or designee.
Coming Soon: Education Programs and Services Committee Meeting 3/11/26
Coming Soon: Fiscal Committee Meeting 3/16/26
Coming Soon: Regular Board Meeting 3/18/26
Coming Soon: Policy Committee Meeting 3/18/26
Coming Soon: Extracurricular Committee Meeting 3/25/26
Coming Soon: Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting 3/25/26
There is always a lot going on in our community. In this section, you can find out how to get involved this week!
Disclaimer: Flyers and information presented in this section are provided by organizations in the general community. Palisades School District is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any information included in these submissions, and shall not be responsible for any decisions made based on such information.
We know that when school is not in session, access to meals can become more challenging for some households, so we are especially glad that the Bucks County Opportunity Council, in partnership with a number of Palisades Community Outreach organizations, will provide Backpack Meal Kits for students over our spring break weekend.
These shelf-stable, kid-friendly kits include breakfasts, lunches, and snacks such as whole grain oatmeal packets, granola or cereal cups, shelf-stable milk, tuna or chicken pouches, low-sodium soups, whole grain crackers, fruit cups, and other healthy snack options.
On Thursday, April 2nd, Bucks County Opportunity Council will host their regularly scheduled Fresh Connect distribution at Palisades Middle School. There will be a separate drive-thru line for the Palisades student Backpack Meal Kits.
Meals will be available for households with children ages 18 and under and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Families will be asked to stay in their cars. Students are not required to be present to pick up meals.
Thursday, April 2nd @ 11:00am - 12:00pm
Palisades Middle School
4710 Durham Road, Kintnersville
(Parking Lot/Drive-Thru)
We are grateful for the partnership of the Bucks County Opportunity Council with Palisades Community Outreach organizations in support of our students and families.
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (PA PKC) is a state-funded prekindergarten program for 3- and 4- year-old children to help them gain school readiness skills. The goal of PA PKC is to provide a high quality-learning environment for children. The program provides comprehensive services to all enrolled children and their families. By forming a partnership with parents, staff, and the community members, we offer services designed to promote the healthiest, safest environment in which children, families, and staff can thrive and their full potential.
The new applications for Pre-K Counts for next school year are now available. Hard copies will be available in the main offices of each of our elementary school buildings shortly.
You can download the applications in PDF format below:
Pre-K Counts Application 26-27 (English)
Pre-K Counts Application 26-27 (Español)
Any eligible students from within our school district are able to participate. Parents must provide daily transportation. There are currently 13 openings for the program next fall. The Pre-K Counts classroom is located in Durham Nockamixon Elementary.
All completed applications can be sent to Kim Day, Director. Any questions can be directed to her by phone at 267-424-2024 or via email at kday@lq.org.
The Palisades Community Foundation (PCF) is hosting two fundraising events that you don't want to miss!
SAVE OUR SHIP EVENT (Adults Only): Food, music, cocktails & raffles
DATE & TIME: Saturday, April 11, 2026; 6:00-10:00PM (doors open at 5:30PM)
COST: $50 per person in advance; $65 per person at the door
LOCATION: BW Social, 1984 Waldheim Rd, Hellertown, PA
CELEBRATE AMERICA’S 250TH RED/WHITE/BLUE FAMILY FUN RUN
DATE & TIME: Saturday, May 16, 2026; 9:00AM (Registration @ 7:30AM)
LOCATION: Palisades High School, 35 Church Hill Road, Kintnersville, PA
BE A SPONSOR! Two-for-One Events!
Guppy $100
Starfish $250
Navigator $500
Deck hand $750
Buccaneer $1,000
First mate $1,500
Captain $2,000
Admiral $2,500
For tickets and information, visit the PCF website HERE.
Little Bellas is a nonprofit organization that introduces girls to mountain biking through fun, creative games that build skills and confidence — both on and off the bike. They offer a half day camp every summer at Nockamixon State Park for girls ages 8-12. All rider levels are welcome, including first-timers.
Camp Details: Lehigh Valley Half Day Camp
Dates: August 10-14, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Nockamixon State Park
Ages: 8-12
Registration: https://littlebellas.configio.com/pd/1299/pa-lehigh-valley-half-day-camp-ages-8-12
Cost: $285
Little Bellas offers financial assistance covering up to 100% of the registration cost for families who need support. Through their Gear UP! program, they can also provide bikes and helmets if needed.
Event by Tinicum Township Police Department and OwowCow Creamery
Join us for a free small ice cream, good conversation, and a chance to meet the officers who serve our community.
📅 Date: April 1, 2026
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Owowcow Creamery, Ottsville
Students, families, and community members are all welcome. Stop by, grab some ice cream, and say hello!
We hope to see you there!
FreshConnect Bucks County provides FREE, fresh produce to our residents facing hunger. They deliver in the PALMS parking lot on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Registration is required.
You can find the application and additional information here.
Our social worker and school counselors have been discussing ways to support families who may be experiencing food insecurity. They have compiled a list of local food resources, which is attached below. We encourage families and community members to review and share this information—sometimes we may not realize who might be in need of a little extra support. Click this link to view the list here.
For those looking to make a monetary donation, the Bucks County Opportunity Council, Inc. is one of the lead anti-poverty organizations in Bucks County. Their website for donations can be found here.
See below for flyers from community organizations. (Click or tap on an image to stop the carousel. Use the arrows to go forward and back at your own pace.)
If you would like to have information covered in the Patch, please send it to patch@palisd.org by Wednesday before its publication on Friday. If you don't currently subscribe to the Patch but would like to receive it via email, please sign up here.